PESHAWAR, Oct 9: Following the confirmation of dengue cases in Sindh, particularly Karachi, the NWFP health department has put on high alert its executive district officers.

It has asked them to take precautionary measures to cope with the disease’s possible entry into the province.

A press release issued here said EDOs of Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Mardan and Buner had been directed to arrange for spraying of insecticides in trains and buses coming from Karachi.

Likewise, spraying of anti-malaria medicine, which is helpful in control of dengue, has been started on needs basis in the province. Similarly, all EDOs have been provided spray pumps to control the threat of dengue.

In order to arrange for dengue fever test facilities in the province, all teaching hospitals have been provided with Elisa tests reagents facilities while all district and tehsil headquarter hospitals have been provided the necessary material for conducting the test.

The dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. Almost 95 per cent of dengue cases occur in children below the age of 15 years.

The physician should be consulted in the case of appearance of red spots on the skin, it said, adding that other symptoms are bleeding from nose or gums, black stool, drowsiness, abdominal pain, excessive thirst (dry mouth), paleness and difficulty in breathing.

The body temperature of the patient should be kept below 39 degrees Centigrade while Paracetamol tablets should never be administered more than four times in a day. Similarly, Aspirin and Ibuprofen tablets should be avoided.

Moreover, a large amount of fluids, including water, soups, milk and juices must be given to the patient along with normal diet. The patient should also be advised to take rest.